| Exemplary Prose: |
| Essential Writing Skills in Context |
Identify and correct common sentence errors including
As a English teacher for eight years, I've compiled a list of common student writing errors that you can view below. Hopefully, by studying these examples, you will avoid making the same mistakes. After that list you will find some practice examples on common errors that were taken from the HSGQE writing practice test.
sentence fragments homophones/homonyms
Below are 4 examples of common errors that students make in their writing that was taken directly from the HSGQE writing practice test. Try them out and see if you can get them all correct.
1. Directions: Here is a paragraph about flying. There are some mistakes that need correcting.
Planes
Most people in the United States are familiar with traveling on large jet planes, but very
few have ever traveled in small propeller driven aircraft. In Alaska, many people have
experienced such flight. Traveling to cabins for hunting and fishing. In fact, small planes is
necessary to move people and
goods to villages around our vast state.
Which is the best way to write the italicized sentence?
A. Small planes, in fact, is necessary to move people and goods to villages around our vast state.
B. In fact, small planes are necessary to move people and goods to villages around our vast state.
C. In fact, small planes will be necessary to move people and goods to villages around our vast state.
D. Small planes, in fact, is being necessary to move people and goods to villages around our vast state.
2. Directions: Choose the answer that is
written correctly and shows the correct capitalization and punctuation.
A) I’m anxious for the snow to melt. Aren’t you?
B) Did you feel how much warmer the sun was today? Its melting the snow.
C) You didn’t shovel the driveways yet did you?
D) There’s snow on the mountains yet are you going skiing this weekend?
3. Maria wrote this report about skyscrapers. There are some mistakes that need corrections. Read the paragraph. Then answer the question.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, American
cities were growing rapid. Because of the high price of land and limited
space, building vertically seemed practical. Due to the development of
sufficiently strong metal frameworks which were able to support many floors, the
giant buildings we know as skyscrapers emerged. The first metal-frame
skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago between the years
of 1884 and 1885. It was torn down about forty-five years later. In the
motion picture Godzilla, the giant
beast is perched upon the Empire State Building. The world’s tallest
skyscrapers are found in Chicago and New York City.
Choose the best way to write the italicized sentence.
A. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, growing rapidly American cities.
B. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, American cities were growing rapidly.
C. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, American cities were growing more rapid.
D. Best as it is: Towards the end of the nineteenth century, American cities were growing rapid.
4. Choose the sentence that is written correctly and shows the correct capitalization and punctuation.
A. The class always seemed to enjoy having a substitute teacher.
B. Part of the high school experience, making lasting friendships.
C. The class was a rather small close knit outstanding group of students.
D. Part of the requirement for the class was reading the novel “Travels With Charley.”
Answer: The correct answer is B. This question asks
you to recognize a problem with subject-verb agreement. "Planes" is a
plural word; therefore, your verb needs to be "are." Sentence C is not
appropriate because "will be" is not present tense but future perfect
tense.
Answer for 2. The correct answer is A. In sentence B, "its" should be "it's." In sentence C, there should be a comma after "yet." Sentence D is a run-on. Return to 2.
Answer for 3. The answer is B Towards the end of the nineteenth century, American cities were growing rapidly. Return to 3.
Answer for 4. Answer: A The class always seemed to enjoy having a substitute teacher. Return to 4.